Twelve tribals booked for stealing treasure trove of Mughal period coins in Madhya Pradesh

BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh police on Sunday booked twelve labourers on charges of 'stealing' a treasure trove of ancient coins they chanced upon while excavating land in Mandla district.
Police said, they were working on a new pipe line project between Mandla and Jailghat area on August 21 when one of them stumbled upon two clay pots filled with Mughal-era coins.
Labours took coins to their native Pandiwara village, located 35 km from the district headquarters, and distributed among themselves.
Police got a tip-off about coins on Saturday evening from a tribal identified as Heera who was apparently upset for not getting his share from the trove.
Subsequently the village was raided and as many as 596 coins were recovered from different houses. Searches are on for more recovery, said sources.
"They kept coins with them without informing the district administration or the police unaware of its legality. Action has been taken in accordance with law," said Vikas Kalpi, sub-inspector of Pandiwara police out post in Mandla district. He said four coins are likely to be recovered.
Case has been registered under different sections of Indian Treasure Trove Act 1878 besides 403 (Dishonest misappropriation of property) and 406 (criminal breach of trust) of IPC.
Experts are yet to determine the period of the coins but initial observations give the impression that the coins are from the late 15th century when this part of the country was under Mughal viceroy Asaf Khan, thus having great archaeological and historical importance as per the opinion of Archaeological officers.
Mandla was the capital of the ancient Gond Kingdom of Garha- Mandla. Historians term this district as the location of ancient Mahishmati. The control of the Garha-Mandla kings over their extended principality was, short-lived, as in 1564 Asaf Khan had invaded their territories.
"Such coins were in circulation during 12th to 15th century AD. They are dotted with Arabic script. Inscriptions on the coins would be easily visible after chemical treatment," said Hamentika Shukla, official of state's archaeology department in Mandla.
State archaeology department will restore the coins for further investigations once a notification is issued by the district magistrate.